WHITTIER >> A group of Whittier College students who call themselves “No Compelling Reason” will conduct a teach-in today in support of assistant professor Eric Lindgren, an outspoken advocate of Latino voting rights whom the college recently denied tenure.

The name of the group is an apparent reference to the Whittier College board of trustees’ comment that there was “no compelling reason” for granting tenure to Lindgren.

The students have asked several professors to speak on topics such as unionization, tenure granting procedures, the school’s designation as a “Hispanic Serving Institution,” the “militarization of campus safety,” the exclusion of student input on landscaping and environmental decision-making.

The event will be held at the Campus Center courtyard.

“This teach-in will engage participants by emphasizing the gravity and significance of current events that have lasting effects on our history,” said a student letter announcing the teach-in.

A petition supporting tenure for Lindgren was signed by 558 students and given to Whittier College President Sharon Herzberger on Feb. 4. Herzberger recommended the trustees deny tenure for Lindgren, despite recommendations for granting tenure to Lindgren by the Political Science Department and the faculty personnel committee.

Faculty observers said a Whittier College president hasn’t gone against the recommendation of the faculty committee since the 1970s.

On Feb. 20, the day before the trustees were scheduled to make their decision, about 100 students shouting “trustees” and “Lindgren rocks” held a rally in support of Lindgren in front of the college library.

Chairman of the board Donald J. Herrema observed the demonstration from a nearby sidewalk.

The next day, the trustees decided to delay their decision.

However, three weeks later on March 17, the first day of spring break, the trustees announced their decision to deny tenure to Lindgren.

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Lindgren said today that he received today a written statement of reasons for the denial from the trustees. However, he said they lacked “specificity” or “substantiation.”

The statement also said the trustees’ decision was final, and that Lindgren has no right to appeal. Lindgren said he was studying that claim.

The statement was the result of an earlier message to the trustees from the Faculty Executive Committee that, according to the Faculty Handbook, Lindgren was entitled to a written statement of reasons for the denial.